Ronald Exantus, the Indianapolis man charged in the death of a 6-year-old Versailles boy, faces the death penalty after he was indicted Wednesday by a Woodford County grand jury, a prosecutor said.
“Because it was a murder committed during the course of a first-degree burglary, it’s a capital case,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Gordie Shaw. He said he filed notice Wednesday that he intends to pursue the death penalty.
http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html
In addition to the murder charge, Exantus was indicted on charges of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of fourth-degree assault.
Exantus is charged in connection with the death of 6-year-old Logan James Dean Tipton, who was killed while he slept in his family’s home. The assault charges were filed in connection with injuries to two of the boy’s siblings and a struggle with the boy’s father.
Exantus is being held on a $1 million bond in connection with the slaying. Exantus is a nurse. He worked at a northeastern Indiana dialysis program for Fresenius Medical Care until he was “released from employment,” according to the company.
Public defender Bridget Hofler said Monday she didn’t think Exantus is mentally competent and might have schizophrenia.
“I feel certain he is mentally ill,” Hofler said. “I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve dealt with a lot of people in my career.”
Shaw, the commonwealth’s attorney, said he could shed no more light on why Exantus came to Versailles and why he chose to go to the Tipton house.
“This is going to be one of those that I can’t talk much about,” Shaw said.
Exantus is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 6 in Woodford Circuit Court.
Meanwhile, the funeral for Tipton has been moved to the Woodford County football stadium at Falling Springs Recreation Center.
Visitation for Logan James Dean Tipton will be 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Clark Funeral Home on Rose Hill Avenue in Versailles. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the football field. It was previously scheduled to be at Woodford Community Christian Church.
A Gofundme page set up for the family has raised more than $42,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. A memorial fund also has been set up at Kentucky Bank in Versailles.
